Safe Communities Blog

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Per reader request, I’m continuing mixing things up with challenges- shorter articles for you to enjoy still offering value. These challenges are things you can do at home, work, on the bus and more.

​As the title suggests, today’s challenge is letting go. There are lots of resources for letting go like this one about letting go of stories you’ve written for yourself, this Tedx video about letting go of unhealthy people or this article about freeing yourself of personal possessions.

Holding on to things or assigning them power tethers us to the past. When we host anger, betrayal, heartbreak or loss we are unable to move forward physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.

"Holding on to things or assigning them power tethers us to the past. When we host anger, betrayal, heartbreak or loss we are unable to move forward physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually."

Below is a brainstorm of experiences I challenge you to let go of. Pick one or come up with your own and work towards moving forward this next month. These types of things can hold you back, obscure your vision or otherwise stop you from living to your most full potential.

When someone has hurt you and you’re unable to forgive them

When you’ve lost an irreplaceable possession

When you have far too much on your plate, are unable to admit/recognize it and continue shoveling it down. I’m speaking metaphorically but I’m also keeping this in mind for when I eat freshly baked thin crust pizza

When someone made you angry and you weren’t able or allowed to express it

When you’ve made a mistake and let the experience convince you that you are the mistake

When you heard someone snicker while you shared your story and decided not to share anymore

When you believed things would never change; you would never change

When you’ve been writing a blog for your company website and struggle with it never being as engaging/thoughtful/resourceful/encouraging/hub-of-all-things-awesome as you want it to be. I’ll admit this one’s really for me!

When you read this list and believed all these examples were too difficult for you. Pro tip: nothing is beyond your reach!

I understand letting go is challenging, frustrating and painful. I can sit here and tell you to surrender to the forces of the universe or provide support but ultimately you’re the only person who can decide you can do it.

Letting go is a process and skill, one you can learn. Start small, ease your way into it, practice letting go and finally step up to the plate and hit a home run. No worries if you hit the ball over the fence! At this point you’ve already learned to let go of earthly possessions.